Whicker: Time for the Ducks to exhibit hang time

The Mighty Ducks' Teemu Selanne, left and Paul Kariya, right, take advantage of some down time during a game against Vancouver at the Arrowhead Pond of Anaheim in 1999. JANINE SWIATKOWSKI, ORANGE COUNTY REGISTER

Ever notice that Gary Bettman can't answer a question without raising his eyes to the ceiling?

If that particular tic continues, the NHL commissioner will be seeing a lot of Scott Niedermayer.

On Friday night, the new Ducks assistant coach and 2007 Stanley Cup-winning captain returned to Kamloops, British Columbia. That is where his Western Hockey League team won one Memorial Cup and played in another final.

The Blazers retired Niedermayer's No. 28 in a ceremony that cited his 190 points in 156 games.

It was a big deal. An NHL player's junior team has much more of a hold on his memory than, say, the Rancho Cucamonga Quakes would have on a Dodger's. Players live, or "billet," with families with those cities, the way Niedermayer did at the house of Roger and Sheila Paulson.

Ex-Ducks general manager Brian Burke was scheduled to be in Kamloops on Friday night, as was distinguished NHL center Mark Recchi, who was the last previous Blazer to have his jersey hoisted, in 1990.

The deciding score in Kamloops' championship-game victory over Sault Ste. Marie, in 1992, came with 15 seconds left in regulation and sprang from Niedermayer's omniscient stick.

When Ed Patterson got speared in the stomach and became nauseous, Zac Boyer jumped onto the ice and replaced him. Niedermayer, who had just intercepted a drop pass, hit Boyer in stride for the goal.

Niedermayer's No. 27 is already in New Jersey's rafters. He helped catalyze three Stanley Cup titles for the Devils, who honored him in December 2011.

Meanwhile, the Ducks have been around for 19 years and have not retired a number yet.

That is wise restraint. The more numbers, the less impact.

The Lakers have retired eight numbers and are preparing Shaquille O'Neal's No. 34 as the ninth. The Phoenix Suns and Utah Jazz have also retired eight player numbers apiece. The Lakers have won 16 championships. The Suns and Jazz have combined to win none.

All eight of the honored Lakers retirees are in the Hall of Fame. Two of the Suns and four of the Jazz are.

When Burke arrived, he was aghast the Ducks were so banner starved that they raised a sign — "A Mighty Decade" — celebrating the fact they'd merely stayed in business and played all their games for 10 years.

But the Ducks have a history now. They won a Stanley Cup and went to Game 7 of the Finals in pursuit of another one. Their cast is particularly distinguished when compared to their contemporary franchises such as Florida, Tampa Bay and Columbus.

The Mighty Ducks' Teemu Selanne, left and Paul Kariya, right, take advantage of some down time during a game against Vancouver at the Arrowhead Pond of Anaheim in 1999. JANINE SWIATKOWSKI, ORANGE COUNTY REGISTER
Jean-Sebastien Giguere holds the Stanley Cup. KEVIN SULLIVAN, THE REGISTER
The Ducks' Scott Niedermayer holds the Stanley Cup high over his head after beating the Ottawa Senators in Game 5 of the Stanley Cup Final at Honda Center. MARK RIGHTMIRE, ORANGE COUNTY REGISTER

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